OEM Trailer Brake Controller

[craiggo]

That's what I would expect. I'm running 9. 5 to get anything approaching tolerable trailer braking.

Rusty

I'm at 10. Gotta say I don't tow enough to justify replacing my stock controller but I would if I towed a lot. It's nothing like the stock one I had on my 2006 Ford (that was integrated into the brake line the same way the Max Brake is).

The Dodge controller is made by Continental as is the same one used by GM.

 

[Cummins12V98]

That's what I would expect. I'm running 9. 5 to get anything approaching tolerable trailer braking.



Rusty

I don't know you or what you have done to your MS as far as brakes. If you have not done so you need to pull apart your calipers if you have disc brakes and lube the slide bushings. When I have more time I will post my whole brake story it is ugly. Bottom line my truck and trailer will stop shorter than my 98 with a rear disc kit solo.

 

[HBarlow]

I am probably higher than needed 9. 5. I had to stop fast in heavy traffic and locked up the trailer tires so I will try a bit lighter. I like the trailer to be braking harder than the truck but not so the tires are smoking! Bottom line is you get the controller with the truck, try it you can always go with something else.

Yep, takes me back ten or eleven years to the days when I was using a lousy pos Tekonsha Voyager controller. Everytime I approached a stop I worried whether I would have lurching, locked and skidding trailer tires, or no brakes at all.

That is the normal mode of operation with inertia-based controllers.

The hydraulic over electric controllers like BrakeSmart and MaxBrake, once set for gain and other parameters, do what the driver's right foot on the truck brake pedal calls for everytime the brakes are applied, in all conditions. Truck and trailer brakes are always synchronized and precisely modulated whenever brakes are applied.

 

[RustyJC]

I don't know you or what you have done to your MS as far as brakes. If you have not done so you need to pull apart your calipers if you have disc brakes and lube the slide bushings. When I have more time I will post my whole brake story it is ugly. Bottom line my truck and trailer will stop shorter than my 98 with a rear disc kit solo.

My MS has the standard Dexter electric drum brakes. These worked just fine with my previous 2002 Ram 3500 with a Jordan Ultima 2020 brake controller (mechanically linked to the brake pedal). With no other changes than going to our 2011, the brakes are not nearly as strong.



If you go back and read through all the comments on the Ram's integrated brake controller in the many threads covering this subject, a common complaint is lack of sufficient output. The function of the controller is fine, but it needs about 50%-75% more power output than it has now to allow us to cut the gain back to 6. 5 or so and get sufficient braking. If you have disc brakes on your MS, then you're not depending on controller output to power the trailer brakes - that's being done by your hydraulic pump, trailer master cylinder or whatever yours is equipped with.



Rusty

 

[AfterBurner]

For my trailer (disc brakes) I had the gain on the OEM controller set to 10, and would have set it higher if I could have! The MaxBrake book states the average gain setting is between 35&45; so I set it at 30 for my first pull. WAY too much gain, I now have it set at 20 and it's just right. I say this to illustrate that my trailer has plenty of stopping power. The oem box for some reason could not get the trailer to apply enough brake force.



I do have to say that Dodge states the oem controller is not made for electric over hydraulic, so this could be the problem. I have pulled this trailer though with other controllers that said they didn't work on electric over hydraulic and they still worked fine, much better than the oem controller.



It's not that I didn't want the oem controller to work, either. I used for 9 months, but just couldn't take it anymore.



Until dodge improves their controller a LOT, I will continue to recommend the MaxBrake to anyone that is serious about having a rig that is comfortable and safe to drive.

 

[RonD]

I just towed for the first time with my 2012, my 05 had a Prodigy, I thought it worked between fair, and poor, the 2012 Factory controller works fine for my use, I see no reason to go to a BrakeSmart at this time, nothing against the BrakeSmart, I suspect it's very good, but this Factory controller works very well, I have it set via dash display on tow heavy, and the gain is at 6. 5, between the tow haul down shift, the great exhaust brake, and the controller it is far better than my old truck, I had a panic stop and it really did the job. I did notice when you take your foot off the brake, give it a little gas it lags a split second, but that doesn't bother me at all.

 

[RustyJC]

... I have it set via dash display on tow heavy, and the gain is at 6. 5.....

What?? Are you saying that you can set the EVIC on the 2012s to differentiate between heavy, medium and light trailers?? AFAIK, no such option is available on the 2011s - just the tow/haul and exhaust brake selections plus the gain setting on the truck's integrated trailer brake controller.



Rusty

 

[SPucillo]

I too was perfectly happy with the factory controller, on 9. 5, until I drove my buddies rig. It was a short drive so I didn't even look at his controller till I arrived at the destination. I was amazed at how well the braking was. I looked around a saw the brakesmart tucked under the edge of the dash.

Just what I wanted, more money leaving my wallet! If your happy with the factory controller, don't ever drive a rig with a Brakesmart or Maxbrake. Ignorance is bliss!

A friend of mine lost control of his rig when a front tire blew out on a curve (Firestone). He flew off the road and broke his back in several places. He can no longer sit, only stand or lie down. He lost his job, wife, home and is now living in a trailer somewhere addicted to meds.

When I am driving through the mountains with my rig and look in the rear view mirror and see my kids sleeping in the rear seats, I am reminded about what is important.

A $320 brake controller is chump change! The Michelin Ribs are not, but still worth every penny!

 

[HBarlow]

I too was perfectly happy with the factory controller, on 9. 5, until I drove my buddies rig. It was a short drive so I didn't even look at his controller till I arrived at the destination. I was amazed at how well the braking was. I looked around a saw the brakesmart tucked under the edge of the dash.

Just what I wanted, more money leaving my wallet! If your happy with the factory controller, don't ever drive a rig with a Brakesmart or Maxbrake. Ignorance is bliss!

A friend of mine lost control of his rig when a front tire blew out on a curve (Firestone). He flew off the road and broke his back in several places. He can no longer sit, only stand or lie down. He lost his job, wife, home and is now living in a trailer somewhere addicted to meds.

When I am driving through the mountains with my rig and look in the rear view mirror and see my kids sleeping in the rear seats, I am reminded about what is important.

A $320 brake controller is chump change! The Michelin Ribs are not, but still worth every penny!

That is precisely what some of our fellow TDR members are experiencing when they come here and defend their OEM or Tekonsha inertia-activated controllers. They simply don't know what they are missing.

Sad story about your friend but it is a reminder of what can happen and occasionally does happen when things we take for granted go wrong.

I think you put the issues in perspective very well. It is usually painful to spend several hundred dollars on an item we think we can do without but sometimes it is demonstrated to us that the money was or even worse, would have been well spent.

 

[RonD]

What?? Are you saying that you can set the EVIC on the 2012s to differentiate between heavy, medium and light trailers?? AFAIK, no such option is available on the 2011s - just the tow/haul and exhaust brake selections plus the gain setting on the truck's integrated trailer brake controller.



Rusty

Yes, that is correct, Maybe it is because it has the Max Tow Pkg, but you bring up the controller on the EVIC, it has tow light, or tow heavy, I used the heavy, my 5th wheel is just under 14,000, the total rig is just under 22,000, the controller in my case works fine, others may have issues with there's or there Trailer may require something better.

 

[Cummins12V98]

RonD

Does the light and heavy tow options show when the trailer is not connected? I checked mine without being hooked up and it does not show, mines is a 2011.

Just curious why do you have air bags? My truck weighs about 12,400 with the 5th wheel attached and I feel it rides and sits just right, just wondering.

Thanks

 

[RonD]

RonD



Does the light and heavy tow options show when the trailer is not connected? I checked mine without being hooked up and it does not show, mines is a 2011.



Just curious why do you have air bags? My truck weighs about 12,400 with the 5th wheel attached and I feel it rides and sits just right, just wondering.



Thanks

I have air bags because I want it level, also it rides better when you hit a dip, big improvement, second, on the controller, it is there when the trailer is not connected, I just went out to the garage, turn key on, push the back button on the steering wheel for the EVIC, arrow down to setup, go to trailer brake type, select the one you want, there are 4 to pick,

1 light electric

2 heavy electric

3 light EOH

4 heavy EOH

that's it, then adjust the gain on the controller with the trailer connected.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Thanks,

I will have to ask my Dad, his is a 2012 with 3:73 gears. That will answer if it is with Max Tow only. My truck sits level with my load. It rides good, it has a air bag on the King pin, trail air I think.

 

[RustyJC]

I just tried it on my 2011. There is no option in System Setup that has anything to do with the trailer brake controller. :{



Rusty

 

[RonD]

It must be a 2012 application, or the Max Tow, this is the only 4th generation I have ever driven, so someone else will have to advise you.

 

[donnieruyle]

OEM Trailer Controller on 2012 Laramie Longhorn 3500

On the displace on dash it shows "light Trailer Towing". How do you change to Medium - Heavy??

 

[RonD]

On the displace on dash it shows "light Trailer Towing". How do you change to Medium - Heavy??

Just use the arrow to select heavy,

 

[RonD]

Page 65 in the Owners Manual explains the EVIC

 

[Cummins12V98]

My Dad's 2012 is not Max Tow and it is adjustable on the tow settings. I asked Palm Springs Chrysler today if it can be added to my 2011. I have not heard back.

 

[RustyJC]

I asked Palm Springs Chrysler today if it can be added to my 2011. I have not heard back.

I'm working with my dealer's operations manager as well to see if STAR can make this available as an update or reflash for the 2011s. Maybe if enough of us push this issue, we can get Dodge/Continental to invest in some programming time. Then again,... ... .



Rusty